Education System in Malawi

Malawi operates on an 8– 4 - 4 systems:
Primary School --8 years
Secondary School --4 years
University Bachelor’s Degree--4 years

Secondary

Secondary School

9–12

15–18

4

Tertiary

Bachelor

4

Tertiary

Master

1–2

Tertiary

Doctorate (PhD)

3

Primary Education

The first 8 years of education in Malawi are compulsory. Children enter primary school at age 6 where the first four years of teaching are in a local traditional language. Thereafter, the medium of education shifts to English for the balance of the Malawi education program. Primary schools are distributed throughout the country. Some are state-controlled, while others are privately operated, usually by religious missions.

Secondary Education

Many secondary schools are boarding establishments where discipline is form and uniforms are required. The period of education is 4 years, after 2 of which students write the Malawi junior national certificate. Two years further on a good pass in the Malawi school certificate of education examination is required for entrance to university.

Vocational Education

The technical, entrepreneurial and vocational training authority is mandated by law to facilitate professional training throughout Malawi. Its objective is to ensure a sustainable workforce, and thereby promote the nation’s economic growth.

Tertiary Education

Access to tertiary education in Malawi is competitive because classroom space is in under-supply. Few candidates are chosen for university, although others may apply at teachers training colleges, and also technical institutions.

There are three universities in the country, namely the Catholic University, Mzuzu University, and the University of Malawi established in 1964 and illustrated here. Its constituent colleges include Chancellor College, Bunda College of Agriculture, The Malawi Polytechnic, Kamuzu College of Nursing, and a College of Medicine where doctors are trained.